The Wallabies have been gifted the best draw imaginable for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand but coach Robbie Deans warned it would be the most competitive Cup ever.
If results go according to seedings during the pool stages of the tournament, the third-ranked Wallabies cannot strike the defending champion Springboks or the top-ranked All Blacks until the final.
Landing on the opposite side of the draw as their two Tri-Nations series rivals - who are projected to meet in a mouth-watering semi-final - Australia have been grouped in a relatively easy pool alongside Ireland, Italy and two qualifying teams from Europe and the Americas, possibly Romania and the US.
Currently ranked eighth in the world, Ireland are the lowest-placed side from the so-called band-two nations that Australia could possibly have been paired with at Monday's draw, which took place inside a giant inflatable rugby ball on the banks of the Thames in London.
The Wallabies are projected to meet Wales in the quarter-finals.
Should they win - reversing their loss to the Six Nations champions at Millennium Stadium on Saturday - they would qualify for a semi-final against either Argentina or France, with South Africa or New Zealand likely to be awaiting Australia in the final.
"There's no such thing as an easy road to the World Cup and history proves that," Deans said.
"You talk about seedings and rankings and expectations, but the last World Cup tipped that all on its head.
"I suspect this will be the most competitive World Cup ever, based on history.
"You look at the last one and the movement of teams and you look at the way teams are developing and equalising.
"Professionalism does that. As players from some of the previously lesser profile teams get access to professional rugby, they all come back to their international teams on a more level footing."
"The World Cup is the ultimate expression of what's good about the game. It's on the day. It doesn't matter what's been before."
The draw threw up some fascinating fixtures and scenarios.
The tournament hosts were drawn alongside France, the team that eliminated the All Blacks in the quarter-finals of last year's edition, while old rivals England and Scotland were paired together in a World Cup pool for the first time.
And as in 2007 in France, South Africa, Wales and Fiji are all in the same pool.
Deans said if nothing else the draw should add excitement to the tournament's build-up.
"The interesting part about the pools is that each pool has some history in it," he said.
"The opening game between France and New Zealand will be a ripper, based on recent events.
"Then you've got England and Scotland and Argentina drawn together ... Australia-Ireland. They've all got some history.
"It will add some intrigue between now and 2011 as the teams move up and down the rankings and I guess it will add intrigue to the public who now know what's coming.
"They'll be able to observe the performances of those teams.
"But, outside of that, it won't make a lot of difference day to day."
Deans understands that all 20 teams will be prescribed a base area by March next year, with 18 regions of New Zealand having expressed an interest to serve as a tournament host.
Major cities like Auckland and Wellington will house multiple teams.
Christchurch-born Deans wouldn't mind the Wallabies bunking down in his home town, where he enjoyed huge success and local hero status coaching the Crusaders.
"There will be interest in Christchurch for the Wallabies, for obvious reasons," he said.
"So I would imagine it would be in the interests of the tournament organisers to feed off that.
Pool A: New Zealand, France, Tonga, Americas 1, Asia 1
Pool B: Argentina, England, Scotland, Europe 1, playoff winner
Pool C: Australia, Ireland, Italy, Europe 2, Americas 2
Pool D: South Africa, Wales, Fiji, Oceania 1, Africa 1
Quarter-final 1: Pool B winner v Pool A runner-up
Quarter-final 2: Pool C winner v Pool D runner-up
Quarter-final 3: Pool A winner v Pool B runner-up
Quarter-final 4: Pool D winner v Pool C runner-up
Semi-final 1: Quarter-final 1 winner v Quarter-final 2 winner
Semi-final 2: quarter-final 3 winner v quarter-final 4 winner
Final
Semi-final 1 winner v semi-final 2 winner
